India and France have had a long-standing relationship in various fields such as defense, culture, and education. In recent years, clean energy has emerged as a new area of cooperation between the two nations. India, with its ambitious plans to increase the share of renewable energy in its energy mix, has called for greater cooperation with France in the clean energy field.
At a recent event in New Delhi, Indian Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy, R.K. Singh, highlighted the importance of cooperation with France in the clean energy sector. He said, “India is very keen on cooperation with France in the field of clean energy. We want to learn from France’s experience in nuclear and renewable energy, and we want to share our experience in solar and wind energy with France.”
France is a world leader in nuclear energy, with over 70% of its electricity generated from nuclear power. However, the country is also increasing its focus on renewable energy sources, with plans to double its installed renewable energy capacity by 2028. France has also been at the forefront of international efforts to combat climate change, hosting the historic 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.
India, on the other hand, has set ambitious targets to increase the share of renewable energy in its energy mix. The country has set a target of achieving 175 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2022, with plans to further increase this to 450 GW by 2030. India has also become a global leader in solar energy, with the country recently achieving the milestone of 100 GW of installed solar capacity.
There are already several areas of cooperation between India and France in the clean energy field. In 2018, the two countries signed an agreement to increase cooperation in the field of renewable energy, with a focus on solar energy. The agreement aimed to strengthen cooperation between Indian and French companies in the development of solar power projects, research and development, and capacity building.
In addition to solar energy, there are also opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in other areas such as wind energy, energy storage, and electric mobility. France is a leading producer of wind energy equipment, while India has a vast potential for wind energy generation. The two countries can collaborate on research and development of new technologies and deployment of wind energy projects.
India is also rapidly adopting electric mobility, with plans to achieve 30% electric vehicle penetration by 2030. France has been a pioneer in electric mobility, with the country launching the world’s first public electric car-sharing service in 2011. India can learn from France’s experience in electric mobility and collaborate on research and development of new technologies.
In conclusion, the cooperation between India and France in the clean energy field can lead to mutual benefits for both countries. India can learn from France’s experience in nuclear and renewable energy, while France can benefit from India’s vast potential for solar and wind energy generation. The two countries can collaborate on research and development of new technologies and deployment of clean energy projects. This cooperation can help to accelerate the transition towards a cleaner and more sustainable future.